6th January 2026

It has been said that if the Wise Men, or Magi, were women, they would have brought Mary and Jesus nappies, baby wipes and milk formula rather than the impractical gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. However impractical these gifts may seem to be, they were of considerable significance, and what’s more, they were gifts not just for Christmas.  

The gift of gold presented to Jesus by the Magi represented his kingship and royalty. As gold was a precious metal reserved for royalty symbolising power, value, and divine status in the ancient world, it was a fitting tribute from the Wise Men who sought the newborn king. It wasn’t just a costly item, but a symbolic recognition of his supreme authority and divine destiny. The Wise Men were bringing their gold to royalty: Jesus may have looked like a baby in a manger, but he is ‘KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS’ (Revelation 19:16).

The gift of incense points to Jesus being our priest. Incense was lit and spread around the altar in the Temple by the priests leading worship. In Scripture incense represents the prayers of the people (Revelation 5:8), and we are to pray in Jesus’s name (John. 16:23-24), as he is the only mediator between the Father and us (1 Timothy 2:5). He is our High Priest who understands our sufferings, has experienced our temptations, and enables us to come before the throne of grace with boldness and confidence, as he leads our worship (Hebrews 4:14-16).

The meaning behind myrrh is that it foretold the death of Jesus, as it was the embalming fluid of the day. This gift was further confirmation of what Mary had heard Anna and Simeon say on the 8th day after Jesus’s birth, when Jesus was presented in the Temple to be circumcised: that this child would die, and while Mary’s heart would be pierced, salvation through him has come (Luke 2:34-38).

The tremendous meaning behind these gifts provides lessons for us throughout the year, so don’t only unpack them at Christmas. The fact that Jesus is our king (in charge of and directing our lives), priest (interceding, empathising and dispensing grace), and Saviour (forgiving our sins and reconciling us to God), gives us the strength and encouragement to follow him throughout our lives.

So the Wise Men were wise after all – what do you think?

Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead 
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA

Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm

Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church

Word of Life contact:  
wordoflife@gracecom.church